On Tuesday, 27 August, three South Africans with a passion for the art of drama and storytelling boarded a flight due for Kazan, the largest city and capital of Tatarstan in Russia, to participate in an international, seven-day short film festival designed to showcase the city of Kazan in addition to providing an opportunity for different filmmakers to connect and collaborate.
These three artists, all alumni of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Drama and Theatre Arts, are Lorenzo Dampies (28), Daniëlle Doubell (24), and Ethan Petzer (24).
Dampies is a technical assistant in the UFS’ drama department, Doubell a freelance actress and teaching assistant at the UFS, and Petzer a freelance actor and filmmaker.
The 2024 edition of the Film7Days contest, a creative project made possible by the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, is dedicated to projects from Brics countries.
These include submissions from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – in addition to Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Tatarstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This is the first in-person event after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We will be shooting a six to seven minute-long film, conceptualised by all three of us, but penned by Ethan for the most part, which will serve as promotional material for Kazan.
“The organisers, however, gave us strict instructions that it should not contain any elements of violence, sex, alcohol abuse, crude language, or political commentary. As such, we had to be very creative because everything we wanted to do, contained those elements,” Dampies shares.
“Our first draft was rejected, and considered too violent. For our second attempt, we decided to rather tone it down and write a drama with elements of a love story.”
He says the team then came up with the story concept of a vagrant mugging a couple in the city of Kazan. Upon rummaging through the couple’s belongings, the vagrant comes across ultrasound images on one of their cellphones, with additional clues indicating that a miscarriage was suffered. This causes the vagrant to think back on his own failed marriage, inspiring him to track down the couple in the city and right his wrong.
“These are the type of stories I enjoy delving into; with characters who have messed up so badly, yet still want to redeem themselves.”
Dampies says that for the last two months he and his team were busy planning what they would record, which locations they would use, and which actors they would want to use.
Fortunately for them, all other arrangements pertaining the trip itself were handled and sponsored by the Kazan department of arts and culture, headed by Olga Lyubimova, minister of culture of the Russian Federation.
“The most challenging part of this trip, believe it or not, was applying for a passport. After numerous frustrations, I resorted to making an appointment at the Department of Home Affairs in Thaba Nchu, where I was assisted by friendly and extremely helpful staff. Thankfully, I do not have to worry about renewing my passport any time soon.”
The trio departed for Russia on 27 August, and return home on Saturday. During the festival, they will be granted four days to produce their short film. On the fifth day participants will have to start with the editing process, with their projects ready for submission on day six.
Given the packed schedule, most of the sightseeing would be done on day one.
“Daniëlle, Ethan and I are excited about the challenge this project will present. We will not only have our wits tested, but will also be granted the opportunity to work with local, Russian talent and, in doing so, network within the film industry on an international scale.
“We know that we will make mistakes along the way, but this is an excellent learning opportunity,” Dampies concludes.
